In Flagranti feat. Natalie Smash - Through The Rabbit Hole

In Flagranti feat. Natalie Smash - Through The Rabbit Hole
The smut disco niche is a hole that's been well filled (ba-boom!) by In Flagranti; even as they have gradually done away with their hardened electro-disco edge for more edit-based fare, their good time intentions have always been proudly on display. "Through The Rabbit Hole," then, marks a slight change of coordinates on the disco landscape for the duo, as they give the T&A raunch a night off. Vocalist Natalie Smash, last seen delivering spoken-word sass on previous single "Ex Ex Ex," here slips into the guise of a wide-eyed Sally Shapiro in Wonderland, for a looking-glass interpretation of slow and surreal cosmic disco.

The original mix never exceeds 85BPM, but despite the Balearic pace it contains zero trace of pastoral sweetness, as a plotted synth melody with one misfired note, plus distended trails and handclaps, establish its wonky otherworldliness. In combination with squealing horn-like stabs, and Smash—who sounds like a disturbed child singing quietly to herself—the result is deliberately and deliciously unreal. The original is probably malleable enough to withstand pitching up into DJ territory, but it's the remixes that will help this find a home amongst disco heads at both ends of the spectrum.

Erring on the side of caution, newcomer Moscow throws plays a full hand of nu-disco accessibility, toning down the quirk, quickening the pace, and filling the gaps with layer upon layer of melody. Likewise, Italo godfather Daniele Baldelli in concert with Dionigi opt for a danceable setting, but with so much emphasis on multi-tracking Smash's thin vocals, and so little on its modest analog beat, it ends up in an unsatisfying place between cold wave and early house. Clap Rules embrace the absurdity, warming up the arrangement with shimmering clouds of colour, bass-dwelling synth noodling, live keys and chirping birds for a trip into cosmic soul, while Justin Robertson under his Deadstock 33's guise opts for a wacky gothic take, replete with ghostly vaporized vocals and thundering drum breaks.

Overall, these are smart moves for In Flagranti's Codek imprint, allowing them to explore their experimental side and still cater for their fans who want a bit of dance floor rough and tumble.